失敗。。 Failed...

 豆乳ヨーグルトを作る試みは失敗。ただのヨーグルトと豆乳のミックスのまま。。やっぱり温度が低過ぎたのかな。。。
The attempt to make soy milk yogurt failed.  It just stayed as the mixture of yogurt and soy milk.  Maybe the temperature was too low...

フルーツ酵母もヨーグルトを使って作ろうと思ったパン用酵母も失敗。発酵に最適な温度は２５〜３５度くらい。今週の我が家の室内の平均温度は２０度くらいだったから、暖かさが充分じゃなかったかなー。。。
The fruit yeast and the bread starter I tried to make with yogurt failed as well.  The ideal temperature for fermentation is about 80-90F.  The average temperature in my house this week was around 70F, so I guess it wasn't warm enough.

豆乳もヨーグルトも捨てるのはもったいないから畑に入れました。身体の営養にはならなかったけど、畑の営養になった。

I didn't want to waste the soy milk and yogurt, so I threw them into my garden.  They didn't nourish my body, but they nourished my garden.  

変えた Changed

私はたいてい年に２回か３回美容院へ行きます。最近しばらく行ってなかったので、髪が長くなり、その髪型もつまらないーと感じていたので、思い切って切ってもらってきました。カツラ一つ分くらいの髪が床に落ちていました。なんとシャンプーも髪を乾かすのもラクチン。ちなみに、たけちゃんもケビンも長い方が良かったと言っています。。。私はどちらでも良いと思うんですけど、変化が楽しい。
I usually go to a hair salon twice or three times a year, but I hadn't gone to one for a while.  My hair was getting long and I was getting bored with the style, so I finally went to a salon and got my hair cut really short.  The amount of hair dropped on the floor seemed enough to make a wig.  Now, shampooing and hair-drying got so much easier!  FYI, my hubby and Kevin said they liked my hair longer.  I didn't really care whether it was long or short that much, but I liked the change.

豆乳ヨーグルト Soy Milk Yogurt

 こちらでたいそう大事そうに毛布に包まれているのは、豆乳ヨーグルトになるであろう物が入った瓶。寒い季節はヨーグルトを作る適温を保つのが大変です。初めての試みどうなるかな？
What is wrapped carefully in this blanket is the bottle containing soy milk yogurt to be.  It's hard to keep the right temperature to make yogurt especially during the cold season.  How will this first attempt to make soy milk yogurt turn out?

こちらが今朝作った豆乳と市販のヨーグルトを混ぜたもの。
This is the mixture of store-bought yogurt and the fresh soy milk I made this morning.

良く友達が、私が良く料理をすると言いますが。。しますけど。。私が楽しんで作る物は、ヨーグルトとか味噌とか天然酵母パンとか、実験的要素のある物。普段の料理はそう好きではない。。。
My friends tell me that I do a lot of cooking.  Maybe I do, but the things I really enjoy cooking are the things that have the elements of science experiments, such as yogurt, MISO, fruits yeast bread.  I don't particularly enjoy every day cooking...

おにぎり Onigiri

なんとFresh and Easyというスーパーでおにぎりを売っているのを発見。売れ行きはあまり良くないのか値下げコーナーに沢山。それにしてもおにぎり売ってるなんて、さすがアジア人の多いカリフォルニア！あ！買って味見してみれば良かった！！！でも、ちょっと高いよね。
I was so surprised and excited to find ONIGIRI(rice ball) at Fresh and Easy, a local grocery store.  There were so many of them in the discounted item corner as they were possibly not selling so well.  But I was just so amazed to find ONIGIRI.  Maybe it only happens in California where so many Asians live.   I should have bought one to try!!!  However, I found the price marked a bit too high for me.

民間療法パート２ Natural Remedies Part 2

さて、玉ねぎを枕元において寝るの報告です。なんと、私には驚くほどの効果。一つも咳をせずに朝までぐっすり寝ました。(^_^)　一方、主人には匂いが気になってか、余計に咳が出て、何度も起きたらしい。。。神経質な彼には逆効果となった (^_^;;
Here is the report on "Sleeping onion next to your pillow."  It had a surprisingly great result on me.  I didn't cough at all and slept through the night very well. (^_^)  On the other hand, it had a totally opposite effect on sensitive and fussy husband.  The smell of onion seemed to bother him and he woke up couple times and ended up with more cough.  (^_^;;

実は既に紹介した他にも私がやっている事があります。いつも首を暖かく保つ為に、スカーフかタオルを巻いています。こちらも、主人はやりません。首を締め付けられる感じがするのだそうです。(*_*;;
Actually, I do few other things besides the remedies I've already introduced.  I wear a scarf or use towel around my neck to keep it warm.  BUT, my hubby doesn't want to do this.  He says he feels like getting choked. (*_*;;

私は今日の午後も日光浴をしまーす。でも、主人はこれもしません。寝転がっている間に虫が来るのが心配なんだそうです。(x_x;;
I am going to do sunbathing again this afternoon.  BUT, my husband doesn't like to do this, because he worries that maybe some bugs will come to bother him while he lies down there. (x_x;;

このティーツリーオイルでのうがいは私の喉にかなり効果的。ちょっとタオルに付けて香を吸い込んでも気持ち良い。でも、主人はこれもしません。口の中に残る味が凄く嫌いらしい、そして香も好みでないらしい (@-@;;
Gargling with this tea tree oil has been really effective on my throat.  A few drops of this oil on a towel and inhaling the aroma makes me feel really good.  BUT, he doesn't like to to this either.  He says he hates the taste that this oil leaves after gargling and he doesn't seem to like the aroma either.  (@_@;;

今日は高麗人参入りのチキンスープを飲んでいます。こちらは主人も大好き！「病は気から」という諺。回復に差が出ているのはその辺にも関連があるでしょうか？
I am drinking chicken soup with Korean Ginseng today.  My husband loves this one!  There is a saying in Japanese, "sickness and health start with mind."  Maybe the difference in the speed of recovery might have something to do with our mind???!!!!

民間療法 Natural Remedies

このところテメキュラはとーーっても暖かくなってきました。日中は２５度を超える日が続いています。街の中はこの花（おそらくイヌナシ）が満開です。こんな天気がいいのに、私は風邪をひいて声が出ません。神様が私に「語らなくて良し」と言う事かしら？
It's been getting very warm in Temecula.  The highest during the day has been over 75F.  These trees(probably Callery Pear) are in full bloom everywhere in town.  Despite of the warm weather, I caught cold and lost my voice.  Maybe God is saying, "Time to be quiet."

でも、そんなに長く静かにしてられないし、元気になりたいから、まずは薬を飲みました。
However, I don't want to stay quiet so long and want to feel well quickly, so I took some medicine right away.

そしてもちろんビタミンCと沢山水を飲むですよね。 

And of course, take Vitamin C and drink a lot of water.

 そして、新鮮な南カリフォルニアのオレンジも沢山食べます。

And eating a lot of fresh Southern California oranges.

新鮮な果物や野菜のジュースも。

Drinking fresh fruits and vegetable juice, too.

 咳が出るので、マヌカハニーとシナモンを混ぜてなめます。

Taking the mixture of Manuka Honey and Cinnamon for cough.

喉の痛みにティーツリーオイルでうがい。

Gargling with tea tree essential oil for soothing throat.

鼻のお手入れに鼻リンス、そして感染防止にマスク。

Sinus rinse for nasal care and wear a mask for preventing germs to spread.

この漢方の粉を飲むと喉がすーっとして気持ち良い。

Drinking this herbal medicine is so soothing to my throat.

蒸気を吸い込んで喉と肺を癒す。

Breathing in some steam for healing throat and lung.

オレガノオイルが風邪に効くらしい。

Taking Oregano oil seems to be effective to cure cold.

ナツメと高麗人参と生姜の汁を飲んで病気に対する抵抗力を立て直す。

Rebuilding the resistance against diseases by drinking the soup made with dates, Korean Gingseng and ginger.

裏庭で日光浴。身体全身がぽっかぽか。肺も暖まるのか息がしやすい。

Sunbathing in the backyard made my whole body so warm and maybe made my lung warm as well and breathing got easier.

それから沢山昼寝。休む。

And a lot of resting and nap.

切った玉ねぎを枕元において寝ると、咳が出ないでぐっすり寝られるらしい。今晩試してみます。

Placing some cut onion next to your pillow seems to prevent from coughing and give a good night sleep.  I am trying this tonight.

これですぐに元気になるかな？

Hope all these will help me get well soon!

恵敏は17歳 Kevin Is Seventeen.

今日はケビンの１７歳のお誕生日でした。下の写真はは去年の物。去年よりもっと青年になって来てますね。

Today was Kevin's 17th Birthday.  Below picture is the one from the last year.  He is developing into young man.

 今日のお誕生日ケーキは恵敏のリクエストで苺のショートケーキ。苺のレイヤーの間にバナナのレイヤーも入れてみました。

Today's birthday cake is a strawberry shortcake being requested by Kevin.  I added a layer of banana in between layers of strawberries.  

恵敏、お誕生日おめでとう！！！愛してるよ〜ん♡

Happy Birthday, Kevin!!!  We love you♡

豆乳作りました Soybean Milk

 これは私の今日の朝食。フラックスシードミール入りパンと出来たて豆乳。美味しー！
This was the part of my breakfast today.  It's flaxseed meal bread and a cup of freshly made soybean milk.  Yummy!

 今日は朝から豆乳を作りました。こちらの大豆は昨日の午後から水に浸しておいたもの。
I made soybean milk this morning.  These soybeans were soaked in water since yesterday afternoon.

大豆が豆乳になる過程の写真を撮り忘れたので、いきなり豆乳になってしまいましが。。レシピはこちら。

I forgot to take the pictures during the process of making soybeans into soy milk, so here the soybean milk is done.  The recipe is here.

 おからも出来ました。こちらは明日料理します。
This is OKARA(what is left after squeezing milk out of soybean) to be cooked tomorrow.

 湯葉も少し出来ました。美味しー。

Some Yuba(fresh tofu skin) was made, too.  Delicious!

 午後スーパーに行ったら、なんとこのワカモレセッとが９９セント！！あまりに安くて値段を間違えたんじゃあないかと、お店の人に聞いちゃった！日本円にしたら１１７円？！安くない？！！
I went to a grocery store in the afternoon and I bought this guacamole set for only 99 cents!  I thought it's too cheap to be true, so I asked a cashier to make sure it's not mis-priced.  What a great price!

 こちらが出来上がったワカモレ。美味しー。

This is the guacamole I made.  Yum.

最後に、こちらはよしあから送られて来た彼の今日の晩ご飯の写真。すごい！
Lastly, this is the picture of Joshua's tonight's dinner being sent us from him.  Super!

マスク Mask

 こんな物をお友達から頂きました。怖い！

I received this gift from a friend.  Looks scary!

顔のパック時にその上から装着して潤いを保つシリコンマスク。変な顔(>_<)　でも確かに使ってみるとなかなか良い！

This is a silicone mask to wear over a facial masque to keep moisture.  Looks awful. (>_<)  But, this product really works and pretty good!

 今日は久しぶりにイーストでパンを焼いてみた。天然酵母と違って簡単に早く膨らむから簡単。今回はフラックスシードパウダーを入れてみたら、とっても美味しかった。やっぱり手作りパンは美味しい！
I baked some bread with dry yeast today since I hadn't baked any for a while.  Baking with dry yeast was so much easier than baking with my homemade fruit yeast as it rises much quicker.  I mixed some flaxseed meal into the dough and it was very good.  Homemade bread is very good indeed.

天気が良かったから洗濯も沢山した。シーツもタオルも暖かくてとってもいい匂いに！
The weather was so good that I did a lot of laundry.  The bed sheets and towels were so warm and smelled so good!